LONDON, June 19, 2025
Schools Face Climate Crisis Threats
Extreme weather, including heat and flooding, could lead to significant learning loss for children in England.
- Rising temperatures may result in the equivalent of more than eight days of lost learning by 2050.
- Over one-third of secondary schools and one-fifth of primary schools face high flood risks.
- The government is investing nearly £20 billion to rebuild schools designed to withstand future climate risks.
How is climate change affecting education in England? According to recent research, children in England are facing prolonged “lost learning” due to extreme heat and flooding at school, a direct consequence of the climate crisis impacting education.
School leaders and teachers are calling for action. They’re responding to scenarios published by the Department for Education (DfE), which paint a grim picture. They are urging ministers to act quickly to improve school resilience against the impact of climate change.
Under one scenario, by 2050, rising heat levels could cause the equivalent of over eight days of lost learning. This is because classrooms will become too hot for effective teaching. This will only be the case unless adaptations like improved ventilation are implemented.
The research also highlighted the risk of flooding. More than one in three secondary schools and one in five primary schools are at high risk of flooding from surface, river, or sea water. High risk is defined as a one in 30 chance of flooding each year.
The DfE summary, based on analyses from the Met Office and University College London, notes that even temperatures below extreme levels could reduce learning ability during a typical academic year. Without any adaptation measures, students might lose up to 12 days of learning per year due to warmer temperatures.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, emphasized the need to rebuild and refurbish classrooms. He said these buildings were not designed to cope with extreme weather conditions.
Whiteman added: “Children feeling too hot or too cold in the classroom, or learning in buildings which aren’t equipped to handle drastic weather changes, may be exposed to serious health and safety risks, as well as struggling to focus on their learning.” He concluded that investment is needed to address climate change and support schools.
Daniel Kebede, the National Education Union’s general secretary, agreed with the report’s findings. He stated that the education system must become more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Stephen Morgan, the early education minister, recently visited Byron primary school in Bradford. The school is part of the DfE’s resilient schools pilot. This pilot is testing climate adaptations.
A government spokesperson said that climate change is a universal issue. The government is taking action to understand the impact on education. It plans to prevent disruption to learning. The government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy includes nearly £20 billion to rebuild more schools across England by 2034-35.
